Biden's top pick to lead the US military is about to get chewed out by Democrats and Republicans

• Retired US Army Gen. Lloyd Austin was thrust into the political spotlight this week after being selected by President-elect Joe Biden to lead the US military.
• Austin, a four-star general with over four decades in the military, still faces a few hurdles before he gets the OK to serve as the defense secretary.
• Austin faces a congressional grilling from lawmakers in both parties.

Retired US Army Gen. Lloyd Austin was thrust into the political spotlight this week after being selected to lead the entire US military by President-elect Joe Biden, a responsibility that traditionally would have gone to someone who had never worn the military uniform or had put it in the closet for at least seven years.

"General Austin shares my profound belief that our nation is at its strongest when we lead not only by the example of our power, but by the power of our example," Biden said in a statement announcing his decision. "Throughout his lifetime of dedicated service - and in the many hours we've spent together in the White House Situation Room and with our troops overseas - General Austin has demonstrated exemplary leadership, character, and command."

Austin, a four-star general with over four decades in the military, still faces a few hurdles before he obtains the keys to the Pentagon. While a Republican majority-held Senate would have to confirm his nomination, he is required to obtain a congressional waiver, similar to some of his predecessors, for having recently served in the armed forces.

As a civilian, a US defense secretary's role is one that traditionally requires a fresh pair of eyes, separated from the group-think mentality that can take hold in organizations like the military, according to policy observers. Critics have long argued that defense secretaries must have some amount of separation from the military, given the political nature of their duties and to avoid any bias based on their prior service.

Nominees who have not yet separated from the military for at least seven years are required to obtain a waiver from Congress. Austin, who retired in 2016, would need a waiver like James Mattis, the retired four-star US Marine Corps general who served as President Donald Trump's first defense secretary before resigning in 2018.

Mattis was confirmed with wide support - his waiver was passed 268-151 in the House and 81-17 in the Senate.

Numerous opinion columns have been written to shed light on the need for a civilian to lead the Pentagon. One such column, written by Eliot Cohen, the dean of Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies, made a strong case against another waiver.

In 2017, Cohen was selected by the late Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona to testify on the GOP's behalf in regards to Mattis' waiver.

Cohen testified at the time that: "The principle of civilian control of the military is precious, and essential to our form of government. Making an exception twice in nearly 70 years, while keeping the fundamental legislation intact and reaffirming the arguments behind it, will not, in my judgment, threaten that principle but rather reinforce it."

In his column published in The Atlantic on Tuesday, Cohen wrote: "For secretary of defense, Americans should want someone of broad experience and perspective in civilian life, not the product of an all-absorbing institution as total in its way as the priesthood in the Catholic Church."

"The military way is a noble way. It is also a narrow way," Cohen added. "There are practical issues as well: Would a soldier favor his own service in intramural budget battles, or bend over backwards not to? Would he concentrate on policy rather than the kind of tactical management generals feel most comfortable with?"

McCain, a combat veteran who was not shy about scrutinizing military leaders like Mattis, ultimately approved of the retired Marine's waiver. The late senator also personally grilled Austin during a Senate hearing in 2015, when the general commanded US Central Command.

"So everything is really going well," McCain quipped at the time, in response to Austin's strategy in Syria.

"This is an abject failure ... I've not attended a hearing that is so grossly distorted as the view of a terrible and tragic situation as I've seen from the witnesses," McCain added.

Austin's reception among Democrats has been mixed. Some Democrats who opposed Mattis' waiver have signaled they would be approving Austin's.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who voted against Mattis' waiver, expressed support for Austin.

"By all accounts he is a ground-breaking, trail-blazing four-star general who dedicated his life to protecting and serving the freedoms that the American people hold dear," Jeffries said on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. "Let's see what happens moving forward, but it's my expectation that we are going to strongly support his nomination."

Several Democratic lawmakers who served in the military declined to give Insider comment on their thoughts for Austin's waiver.

Other prominent Democrats expressed disinterest, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, a combat veteran who serves on the Armed Services Committee. Duckworth previously voted against Mattis' waiver.

"I will support Gen. Austin but I will not support the waiver," Duckworth said Wednesday on MSNBC. "I suspect that the waiver will pass."

"I believe very strongly that there needs to be civilian control and civilian oversight of the military," Duckworth said, adding that despite her opinion on his nomination, Austin was an "excellent officer."

Meanwhile, several Republicans have stated they would oppose Austin's nomination out of principle and his alleged lack of experience in dealing with China.

"Congress has issued a waiver for recently retired senior officers to serve as Secretary of Defense only twice in the past 70 years for good reason," Republican Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said to Insider. "Civilian control of the military requires civilians to control the military, and through no fault of their own, it can be understandably difficult for recently retired senior officers to separate themselves from their careers in uniform."

"While Congress made an extraordinary exception for Secretary Mattis, exceptions need to be just that -extraordinary," Gallagher added. "I am concerned that providing two waivers in four years - after nearly seven decades providing only one - would set a trend that would be hard to unwind."

Biden on Wednesday defended his decision to nominate Austin and said he "would not be asking for this exemption if I did not believe this moment in our history didn't call for it."

If confirmed, Austin will become the first Black defense secretary in the US.